Almost there

 I think I know most of the MPC now - next thing to sort are snapshots which, I hope, will let me store synth tweaks. The manual is predictably vague, just talks about "automation parameters" so not sure how it'll work in practice. Need also to test out the copying arranger to clip functions and make sure I'm slick with all that to-ing and fro-ing. The only point I can see now of different sequences is to make different arrangements, or perhaps to go back to the old song mode, which doesn't seem to offer a lot now. 

Well, snapshots was exactly what I hoped - surprised it doesn't get more than the briefest mention in the manual as it's a really big deal, especially for making changes to the plugin synths that don't support program changes. It also works for external MIDI gear - and although the screen is somewhat confusing, packed with terms relevant to very few synthesizers, you can edit the labels for each CC - a job for a rainy day. OK, it's raining now but I'm done testing for today. Storing the setup for each row will make a big difference to what I can do, even if a lot of the time it'll be just levels, FX and a few simple synth parameters. At some point I'll stress-test it to see how many changes can be stored in a single row. Doing a new save over the top seems to overwrite, which is how you'd want it. Chuffed. 

OK, update on that. Returned to my song with the snapshots in and, somehow, a full on modwheel had been added to every one ruining the Mini-ish track. I couldn't work out how to wipe just that event, or indeed see which events are stored in a snapshot. So the only option is to clear them all and do again - not that I can remember what was stored in each row. I don't know if it's worth raising a request for this. Update: I did. Right now you just can't use many snapshots unless you write them all down on a piece of paper, just in case they somehow get corrupted, maybe by incoming CCs. 

Tuesday, off to York with Mick and John. My train cancelled so travelled there alone. Still worth it though. They were filming The Piano at the station and part was closed off near the pub for them to film. Good chats, will do again.

Wednesday, finally walking with Tony. Well, that's the plan. And it was lovely!

Thursday now a grey and cold one. The studio beckons. And a couple of hours of grabbing bits and pieces from the KSP/Wavestate. These give me a couple of new projects ready-loaded with a few starting points, which is nice to have and all the donkey work of sampling/recording done. It's a good way to work but I think I'm going to ignore snapshots as much as I can and write (visible) automation to a finished arrangement instead. I do want to veryfy that snapshot info is not written to the arrangement as seemed to be the case last time I tried. That's counter-intuitive to me. 

Tomorrow I will have to move Margaret's old sofa, probably to tip as charities won't take something "sun bleached" as it aparently is. One more to ask though. Then it's regular Friday.

Recorded something a bit chaotic then deleted on Saturday monin. Saturday Tim and I did some jammin. Was good.